Chapter 8 - Nathaniel’s Last BargainVictoria’s arrest detonated across the world.
Senator Kincaid resigned within twelve hours.
Three judges were suspended.
Bank executives disappeared from their offices.
International investigations opened across seven countries.
The Circle began collapsing.
But one question remained.
Who was Victoria’s replacement?
Clara returned to New York.
Leo ran into her arms.
Dominic watched.
Home.
That word had once meant nothing to him.
Now it stood before him in two people.
Clara looked over Leo’s shoulder.
Their eyes met.
She smiled.
Then Vincent approached.
“Nathaniel wants to speak to Clara.”
Dominic’s expression hardened.
“No.”
Clara stood.
“Why?”
“He claims he knows who Victoria selected.”
Dominic looked at her.
“It’s a trap.”
“Probably.”
“You’re still going.”
“Yes.”
“Of course you are.”
Nathaniel looked ten years older.
Prison had stripped away the illusion.
No tailored suit.
No expensive watch.
No assistants.
Just a frightened man behind glass.
Clara sat.
Nathaniel picked up the phone.
“You look well.”
“What do you want?”
“You destroyed Victoria.”
“She destroyed herself.”
Nathaniel smiled bitterly.
“You always say things like that now.”
“Who is Victoria’s successor?”
His smile disappeared.
“I want something first.”
“No.”
“You don’t even know what.”
“I don’t care.”
Nathaniel leaned forward.
“I want to see Leo.”
Clara’s expression froze.
“No.”
“He’s my son.”
“You abandoned him before he was born.”
“I made mistakes.”
Clara almost laughed.
“Mistakes?”
“I was manipulated.”
“So was I.”
“You had Falcone.”
“I had myself.”
Nathaniel looked away.
Then something surprising happened.
His eyes filled with tears.
“I think about that night.”
Clara remained silent.
“Every day.”
“So do I.”
“I didn’t know.”
“You knew I was in labor.”
“I mean I didn’t know what would happen.”
“You ordered men to take my coat.”
Nathaniel closed his eyes.
Clara felt nothing.
Not satisfaction.
Not hatred.
Nothing.
That surprised her.
For nine years she had wanted this man to suffer.
Now his suffering seemed small.
“I forgive you,” she said.
Nathaniel looked up.
Shock.
“What?”
“I forgive you.”
Hope appeared.
Then Clara continued.
“Not because you deserve it.”
His hope died.
“Because I refuse to carry you anymore.”
She stood.
“Wait.”
Clara paused.
Nathaniel whispered a name.
“Jonathan Mercer.”
Clara turned.
Her blood chilled.
Jonathan Mercer.
Chief legal counsel for Vanguard Holdings.
Her own attorney.
The man who had served her for seven years.
Nathaniel smiled sadly.
“Victoria recruited him before you ever hired him.”
Jonathan disappeared before Clara returned to the office.
His computer was wiped.
His apartment empty.
His passport unused.
He had planned everything.
Then Clara received a video.
Jonathan appeared on screen.
Behind him stood Leo’s school.
Empty.
Night.
“Clara.”
His expression was calm.
“Victoria failed because she believed power needed secrecy.”
He smiled.
“I disagree.”
Images appeared behind him.
Stock exchanges.
Government buildings.
Ports.
Hospitals.
“I am going to make the Circle public.”
Clara stared.
Dominic stood beside her.
Jonathan continued.
“Tomorrow morning, I will release Meridian.”
Clara frowned.
“That would destroy his own network.”
Dominic understood first.
“No.”
“What?”
“He’ll modify it.”
Jonathan confirmed through the video.
“I have created a revised version.”
Clara went cold.
“Names will be changed.”
He smiled.
“Innocent people will appear guilty.”
Politicians.
Judges.
CEOs.
Dominic.
Clara.
“If released,” Jonathan continued, “markets will collapse. Governments will investigate their own institutions. Trust will disappear.”
Clara understood his objective.
Chaos.
In chaos, Jonathan could build something new.
“Unless,” he said, “Clara Montgomery publicly accepts responsibility for creating Meridian.”
Dominic cursed.
Jonathan smiled.
“Confess tomorrow at noon.”
The screen went black.
Clara looked at Dominic.
“He wants the world to believe I built the Circle.”
Dominic shook his head.
“You’re not doing it.”
Clara stared at the blank screen.
“No.”
May you like
A slow smile appeared.
“I’m going to do something much worse.”
